Cosell Takes Stand, Stage At Usfl Trial

June 26, 1986|By Philip Lentz, Chicago Tribune.

NEW YORK — Put a microphone in front of Howard Cosell and you`ll get a performance. That`s what they did at the pro football antitrust trial here Wednesday, and, boy, did they ever get a performance. His appearance caused an uproar in the normally hushed federal courtroom.

When Cosell wasn`t bragging about his accomplishments or plugging his books or jousting with the lawyers, he played to the crowd, prompting frequent waves of laughter among jurors and spectators who packed the courtroom.

Employing his familiar bombastic staccato delivery, Cosell`s voice thundered off the marble walls as he lectured the jury on football history, told obscure anecdotes and defended his journalistic reputation. At times it seemed as if he were narrating a documentary, not testifying in a federal court case.

Along the way, Cosell, 68, delivered testimony that the United States Football League hopes will be crucial in its $1.5 billion suit against the established National Football League.

The heart of Cosell`s testimony was that Roone Arledge, former president of ABC Sports, complained to him that the NFL was pressuring the network for giving a television contract to the rival USFL. His comments contradict earlier testimony by Arledge, who contended that he never received any pressure from the NFL.

But Cosell`s testimony was overshadowed by his antics, particularly his verbal duels with NFL attorney Frank Rothman.

When Rothman asked Cosell if he had once claimed to be one of the three greatest men of American television, Cosell said, ``I feel I`m a unique personality who`s had more impact on television sports than any person who has yet lived.``

Under direct examination by Harvey Myerson, chief lawyer for the USFL, Cosell recounted two instances of pressure by the NFL on ABC. In one incident, Cosell recalled a conversation with Arledge in which he claimed Arledge said: ``You gotta understand. Pete (NFL commissioner Rozelle) is all over me because I`m sustaining the United States Football League for the spring contract.``

Arledge had testified that he did not recall making that statement. Cosell was asked if Arledge`s testimony was true. ``Not in my opinion, no,``

he said.

Cosell said the second incident occurred when Arledge told him that Rozelle was upset that Cosell was to testify before a Senate subcommittee against a bill the NFL favored.

Cosell said Rozelle was afraid that his testimony would delay a vote on the bill. So, he said, Arledge arranged for him to move up his testimony by two weeks and then take a charter plane later that day to Buffalo, where Cosell was to broadcast an NFL game on ABC.

Myerson read Arledge`s testimony in which the ABC executive said he did not recall asking Cosell to change the date of his subcommittee appearance, but did admonish him, as a journalist, against taking public positions.

``It is not true,`` Cosell said of Arledge`s statements, ``From beginning to end, it is not true. I didn`t provide the plane. Mr. Arledge did. I never heard in my life from Arledge or someone else with regards to a journalist not dealing with public issues. What is a journalist? If I didn`t deal with public issues, I would betray my public duty. I`m telling it like it is.``

Under cross examination, Cosell, who left ABC Sports last year, said the episode upset him because ``what Roone Arledge was doing was serving the interests of the National Football League.``

Cosell was the last witness for the USFL. The NFL will begin presenting its defense on Thursday.